Former Oklahoma Death Row inmate Richard Glossip to be released on bond, judge rules

Richard Glossip will be released from jail while he awaits a new trial in the 1997 Oklahoma City motel murder case.

OKLAHOMA CITY -UPDATE: An Oklahoma County judge has granted a request for bail for former Death Row inmate Richard Glossip.

In a ruling on Thursday, a judge ruled that bail for Glossip would be granted while the state prepares to retry him for the 1997 murder of Oklahoma City motel owner Barry Van Treese.

Glossip spent more than 20 years on death row before his conviction was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2025, which found he did not receive a fair trial. He has remained in the Oklahoma County Jail while the case moves toward a retrial.

His case returned to the district court after the high court ruling, and he has been held in custody as proceedings continue. A trial date has not yet been set, though prosecutors have said they will not seek the death penalty in the case.

Prosecutors said Glossip arranged for a co-worker, Justin Sneed, to kill Van Treese. Sneed admitted to beating Van Treese to death and testified against Glossip in exchange for avoiding the death penalty.

The bond decision comes after recent court arguments in which defense attorneys sought to enforce a previously discussed agreement with the state that they say could have led to Glossip’s release. Prosecutors argued the agreement was never finalized.

As part of his release, bail for Glossip has been set at $500,000, and is subject to release following approval of a pre-trial release program. Under the conditions of his bond, Glossip will be monitored by GPS during pre-trial release, and Glossip will only be allowed to reside with his spouse at their home.

Glossip will also be required ro observe residential curfew hours from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.

Attorney Donald Knight, who represents Glossip, released a statement following Thursday’s ruling.

“For the first time in 29 years of being incarcerated for a crime he did not commit, during which he faced 9 execution dates and ate 3 last meals, Mr. Glossip now has the chance to taste freedom,” Knight said. “Mr. Glossip is deeply grateful to the many thousands of people who have expressed support for him over the years and now looks forward to the day when he is exonerated and truly free from this decades-long nightmare.”

Source: news9.com, Christian Hans, May 14, 2026

"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,
but by the punishments that the good have inflicted."
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